Transfer Gossip: Tottenham to beat out six clubs in chase for World Cup final midfielder; ‘agent’ Saint-Maximin working on Newcastle striker deal
Tottenham look set to beat out six other clubs to the signing of a World Cup final midfielder from Serie A, while Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin admits he is working on a Bundesliga forward to join him on Tyneside – all in Thursday’s transfer gossip.
SPURS CLOSING IN ON RABIOT DEAL
Tottenham are reportedly leading the chase to sign France international Adrien Rabiot, who is also on the radar of six other clubs.
Antonio Conte is on the hunt for new additions in the January window as he looks to maintain his side’s push for a top-four finish, while also preparing for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
A new centre-back, creative midfielder and right wing-back are the main positions he wants to strengthen. However, central midfield has also been mooted as an area Conte wants to bolster, and Juventus and France star Rabiot is a major option.
And, according to Corriere dello Sport, Spurs are now considered the frontrunners to sign Rabiot in January.
The 27-year-old appears certain to quit Turin next month as the World Cup finalist approaches the final six months of his contract.
Rabiot was one of France’s best players in Qatar and started the final loss to Argentina on penalties. But despite the crushing disappointment on Sunday, Rabiot’s displays during the tournament have seen a number of clubs ready to snatch his signature.
Seven clubs still in Rabiot signing mix
Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle are all known to be keen, along with European heavyweights Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Rabiot’s former club PSG.
However, it’s Conte who looks like he could win the race for a player Juve are willing to sell for just £12m in the new year as his contract runs down.
If Rabiot does arrive in north London, he’ll compete with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp for a starting role in Conte’s engine room.
NEWCASTLE URGED TO SIGN THURAM
Newcastle forward Allan Saint-Maximin has cheekily told his club to sign close friend Marcus Thuram.
Saint-Maximin knows the Borussia Monchengladbach and France international forward well, and the striker – who played a bit-part role at the World Cup as the French suffered final defeat to Argentina- will see his Gladbach contract expire in June.
“He is a great player and I hope we have a chance to take him here. Yeah, I will be honest, I have chatted with him,” Saint-Maximin told Shields Gazzette.
“For me, he’s a great player. I’ve known this guy a long time. I’ve been playing football with him when I was very young. I know all his family. He has great parents. He’s an incredible guy.”
Thuram could be available for as little as £10million due to his contract running down.
However, he is also on the radar of a number of other top clubs, with Manchester United and Tottenham also in the mix for his signature.
LEEDS STILL KEEN ON MLS FULL-BACK
The Athletic reports that Leeds United could still try to sign Philadelphia Union full-back Kai Wagner in January, after he was waiting for a move to Elland Road over the summer.
After a tough start to the season, the Elland Road outfit’s form under Jesse Marsch took a turn for the better prior to the World Cup break.
And now the American is looking to bolster his squad when the January window opens.
With that in mind, The Athletic states that Marsch could return with an offer for a player he targeted over the summer in Wagner.
The 25-year-old has performed well in the MLS this season and has provided eight assists in 33 appearances.
The German has been described as a ‘talented’ full-back who could offer Leeds more going forward than Junior Firpo and Marsch’s current option Pascal Struijk, whose performances this season have seen him rewarded with a new contract.
